[Aptorian]

Having played Fable 2 and 3 back to back I've never been able to understand the hatred of Fable 3 in comparison to its predecessor. Yes, that last third of the game was poorly implemented but at least it tried something different. Except for the ending, and some of the humor, Fable 3 felt like a better gaming experience through and through. Bigger, prettier, more advanced.

That said compared to the focus that series gets, and the hype Moleneux drums up, they're not actually very good action or adventure games.

[Morgoth]

I never played 1 or 2, so I have no real means of comparison. Alone, however, the game is terrible. Absolutely terrible.

There's a part towards the end that's pretty interesting, and if the entire game had been like that it would have been decent, but as it stands the game is shit.

[Lucifer's Heaven]

Spoilers for Fable 3:

Spoiler

I really loved the idea for Fable 3. The way they handled your target for the game, and up until you're nearly there there is no hint at more. Then there is a decent shift in the game. Such a great idea, but so poorly handled.
I sooooo wish it had been done by someone like CDProject. Grittier, harsher, more brutal and decisions that made a difference in ways you couldn't entirely predict, not ways that were clearly explained to you and labelled good and evil. Also, more options and choices (I'd totally have executed that snobby bastard who kept suggesting all the "evil" options).
I didn't get to play Fable 2, as it wasn't released on PC. Of the two I played, number 1 was a far better game. It was really easy, but you had so many more options for what to do with your character and the whole thing felt less railroaded. The fighting was a lot more fun, because there was more diversity. Heck, 3 pretty much only had 4 bad guys. Groups of bandits and wolves early on, which are then replaced by undead and balverines respectively later on, and that was it. You fight a few hobbs, but otherwise it's always one of those groups always with the exact same group make up.
And the fighting was more boring than fun. You can switch between "magic", a melee and a gun. You can attack or alt attack with each, and that's pretty much it. In the first one I remember charging bow shots, then they'd get close so I'd teleport through them, switch to sword, hack them in the back, teleport away throw a fireball, drain health off them if I was hurt, etc. It was much more dynamic and fun to do (though it went from easy to "bitch, please" if you used timestop all the time, but it was still more fun and building the multiplyer was an enjoyable challenge. In 3 fighting was just a chore after a (not very long) while.

In short, I liked the idea of Fable 3, but it failed to deliver, so I thought Fable 1 was the far superior of 1 & 3. A lot more fun to play.

[worry]

This may sound like a dumb question, but is it basically impossible now to buy a new Microsoft brand Xbox 360 hard drive? It seems like you either have to buy a whole new Xbox bundle, or get an Xbox Slim and an external HDD. I'm way out of the loop Xbox-wise. I've had a 20 GB for years now (never red-ringed) and just now filled it up for the first time, which may go to show you how little I've used it. But now that they're doing the 2-free-games/month thing, I'm starting to wish I had more space.

[Obdigore]

Probably have to go refurb or third party if you are trying to expand your HDD for an original model (not slim) 360 at this point.

[Silencer]

Yeah. I've still got my 20GB model and don't think you can get the original larger HDDs any more, more or less.

[worry]

Thanks guys. You're both basically correct, had to order a refurbished HD from GameStop, but luckily it wasn't too pricey. Couldn't let myself take the ebay route, as I've read that off-brand HDs look pretty much identical to Microsoft's, and yet they often are missing fundamental things like Xbox emulation.

[Silencer]

Glad you could grab one. I wouldn't expect to find anything like that in NZ, unfortunately. *sigh*

[Jagh-o-matic]

Silencer, on 13 June 2013 - 01:01 AM, said:

Glad you could grab one. I wouldn't expect to find anything like that in NZ, unfortunately. *sigh*

Yeah, but at least you still have your sheep! Sorry, impulse control problem.

Q: What's the difference between a Kiwi and a computer?

A: With a computer, you only have to punch the information in one time.

Don't know if that's old hat; it came from an Aussie acquaintance, naturally.

[Silencer]

Jagh-o-matic, on 13 June 2013 - 05:48 PM, said:

Silencer, on 13 June 2013 - 01:01 AM, said:

Glad you could grab one. I wouldn't expect to find anything like that in NZ, unfortunately. *sigh*

Yeah, but at least you still have your sheep! Sorry, impulse control problem.

Q: What's the difference between a Kiwi and a computer?

A: With a computer, you only have to punch the information in one time.

Don't know if that's old hat; it came from an Aussie acquaintance, naturally.

Actually, can't say as I've heard that one much, and I have several friends in Australia. XD I lol'd, just a little.

[HiddenOne]

said Silencer right before he banned JagoMatic for life


@ Worry - let me know how the external HD works out - I have the newish 4 GB unit and it doesn't have room enough for even some game saves, so I need more. The ones I have seen for sale online are rather expensive, I should have just bought the bigger model to begin with

[worry]

Will definitely let you know, good or bad. But to clarify, if you have the newer 4G Xbox, I think it's called the Slim, then they make pocket-sized USB-attachable expansion HDs for it that are readily available. These aren't old-Xbox compatible, so I (and Silencer, and whoever else) must rely on the old clip-in external drives, which no longer seem to be manufactured for independent sale by MS. Slims have a slot for those too I think, but that USB option is always open. The risk there is the usual MS prices vs going off brand.

[HiddenOne]

worry, on 14 June 2013 - 07:38 PM, said:

Will definitely let you know, good or bad. But to clarify, if you have the newer 4G Xbox, I think it's called the Slim, then they make pocket-sized USB-attachable expansion HDs for it that are readily available. These aren't old-Xbox compatible, so I (and Silencer, and whoever else) must rely on the old clip-in external drives, which no longer seem to be manufactured for independent sale by MS. Slims have a slot for those too I think, but that USB option is always open. The risk there is the usual MS prices vs going off brand.

thanks, the only ones I've seen that appear to be compatible are $130 - does that sound like the same thing?

[worry]

Here's a 250GB one on sale: http://www.amazon.co...slim+hard+drive

[Khellendros]

HiddenOne, on 14 June 2013 - 08:36 PM, said:

worry, on 14 June 2013 - 07:38 PM, said:

Will definitely let you know, good or bad. But to clarify, if you have the newer 4G Xbox, I think it's called the Slim, then they make pocket-sized USB-attachable expansion HDs for it that are readily available. These aren't old-Xbox compatible, so I (and Silencer, and whoever else) must rely on the old clip-in external drives, which no longer seem to be manufactured for independent sale by MS. Slims have a slot for those too I think, but that USB option is always open. The risk there is the usual MS prices vs going off brand.

thanks, the only ones I've seen that appear to be compatible are $130 - does that sound like the same thing?

You can get used, refurbished ones for about half the price new ones are, for both the old and slim models (at least, here in the UK you can). I bought a couple of 60GB refurbished ones for the old-style Xbox fairly recently.

Quick scan of Amazon.com I can see 60GB drives for the slim between $30-40. 120GB drive appears to be around the same price, weirdly.

[Silencer]

Sew, ordered myself a PS3 (yes, three) and a PS Vita yesterday. They were on a pretty decent special bundled with a couple of games each and stuff, so I said "fuck it" and purchased them. Mainly, for the PS3, to catch up on some exclusives, and to say a nice big "FUCK YOU" to Microsoft. The PS Vita at least has interesting interactivity with the PS4, so it's sort of a "get back into handheld gaming a little" while also being a future investment. Still cost me way too much, though.

Now, when they get here, I shall be excited!

[Illuyankas]

You should check out PS+ as well, see how many of the free games you want. You may have to begin and cancel downloading them to get them on your account, but that'll be forever once you do.

The US has more but fuck me, XCOM, Demon's Souls and Ico/Shadow of the Colossus HD are all pretty fucking sweet, and also free in the UK. Hopefully you'll have a similar range over in your tiny island hellhole.

[Silencer]

Illuyankas, on 15 June 2013 - 12:45 AM, said:

You should check out PS+ as well, see how many of the free games you want. You may have to begin and cancel downloading them to get them on your account, but that'll be forever once you do.

The US has more but fuck me, XCOM, Demon's Souls and Ico/Shadow of the Colossus HD are all pretty fucking sweet, and also free in the UK. Hopefully you'll have a similar range over in your tiny island hellhole.

Yup, will be checking out the deals. A lot of the classic-exclusive titles I'm looking at are almost cheaper to buy outright off the network than rent from my local video store, too, which is pretty neat. I was moderately surprised to find out that PS Plus is actually more expensive than an Xbox Live Gold sub for the year over here - though obviously it more than pays for itself over the course of that year, even without the pay-gating of mutliplayer as it currently stands on the PS3. Still totally worth it, but a little surprised (I'd always thought of it as slightly cheaper, for some reason).

[Illuyankas]

That would be because it is in the US, oddly. $60 to PS+'s $50. It's a little cheaper than the PSN one in the UK too depending on where you get it. I imagine it makes up for having to buy it to watch Netflix and other services, and getting less free stuff, so if it's still cheaper in November that'll be a sop to the Xbone crowd huddle.

[Silencer]

Illuyankas, on 15 June 2013 - 01:44 AM, said:

That would be because it is in the US, oddly. $60 to PS+'s $50. It's a little cheaper than the PSN one in the UK too depending on where you get it. I imagine it makes up for having to buy it to watch Netflix and other services, and getting less free stuff, so if it's still cheaper in November that'll be a sop to the Xbone crowd huddle.

One imagines they aren't planning on upping the charges - they more or less have got away with announcing that some/all multiplayer will now require a Plus subscription, but they might get a bit of flak for upping the cost too - and seeing as they've said (iirc) that existing Plus memberships will still be valid, that would imply a lack of change in pricing structure (or, I guess, a bit of a freebie for existing Plus subscribers, which could also work, so who knows...).

It will be interesting to watch, though. And yeah, odd that NZ is backwards on that one - it may have to do simply with when the price for each was set, or a quirk of the system. It doesn't really bother me much (it's like 10 bucks a year here too) but it stood out - and apparently, rightly so. Probably just another way NZ gamers can get shafted. *sigh*